A review by theirgracegrace
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson

dark emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

The time loop of Life after Life is the life of Ursula Todd. She initially dies

choking upon birth

in 1910, but then she wakes up again immediately. As she grows older in the shadow of the First World War, she is forced to watch the world grow cold as the Second World War looms on the horizon. As she gains knowledge of the time loop, she begins to try and alter history to save her family from the horrors of war.

This book was a visceral experience. Ursula's life reflects the sorry state of women in the early 20th century, including mistreatment by men and powerlessness in the face of devastating war and violence. Each death comes as a surprise, and the twist of why she is in the time loop leads to a powerful ending.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Genocide, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Acephobia/Arophobia, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Deportation, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Drug use, Racism, Vomit, and Trafficking

Minor: Confinement, Cursing, Homophobia, and Car accident